Ch.96Family Records (Complete)

*Knock knock-*

Elin and Ceres.

I carefully knocked on the door of the room where the lovely mother and daughter were staying. But there was no response from beyond the door.

Wondering if they might be sleeping, I gently opened the door, and sure enough, both were sound asleep taking a nap.

Elin’s hand was resting on the cute princess’s belly, as if she had fallen asleep while patting Ceres.

As I was standing there, gazing at the adorable sight of the two of them…

“Crow…?”

Elin raised herself up and looked at me while rubbing her eyes.

Her half-awake appearance was so lovely that I wanted to rush over and kiss her right away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, thinking about how tired she must be from taking care of our little princess.

“Yeah, it’s me. It’s okay. Go back to sleep.”

“I’m fine… I’ve slept enough… Come in and sit down.”

Elin stretched her body with a yawn. The sight of her large breasts swaying up and down was quite captivating.

Come to think of it, didn’t Elin say she wanted a second child…?

Once Ceres grows up a bit, we should start preparing in earnest. Having children too close in age might cause jealousy between them, so a bit of an age gap would be better.

Thinking this, I sat down on the sofa, and Elin approached me with her lips pursed.

The meaning behind that gesture was clear, so I gently kissed her lips. Elin smiled brightly and caressed my cheek.

“Look at your damaged skin… You’re very tired, aren’t you?”

“It’s fine. And it’s okay to be a little tired. I’m so blessed.”

With four lovely wives, I have no right to complain even if I were twice as exhausted.

“Is Ceres drinking her formula well?”

“Yes, she drinks it well. Ah… is this about Roel?”

“Yeah, I heard she doesn’t drink formula well. She somehow managed to drink it when I fed her today, but I’m still worried.”

“Roel certainly loves you a lot, Crow. It’s unusual. Normally babies prefer their mothers.”

“That’s what I’m saying. She should prefer her mother…”

“Don’t worry. Children loving their mothers is instinctual.”

Elin smiled reassuringly.

Seeing her smile, which had grown more mature after giving birth, somehow made me feel at ease. I suppose that’s the difference a mother makes.

I carefully placed my hand over hers and said:

“Actually, I’m most worried about you.”

“About me…?”

Elin tilted her head in confusion.

To be honest, this anxiety had always remained in a corner of my heart. When we were dating, after we got married, and even now.

The fact that someday I would have to leave her behind constricts my chest.

“Elves live much longer than humans… Even when I grow old and age, you’ll still look similar to how you do now. You’ll eventually watch our entire family be buried. The pain you’ll feel then… there’s nothing I can do about it.”

This is the first time I’ve brought this up with Elin. Until now, I didn’t have the courage to mention it. It’s something she’ll face later, and I didn’t want to ruin these happy moments by worrying about it in advance.

But why now? Maybe I’ve become too emotional from lack of sleep. Or perhaps I’ve grown tired of worrying about it alone.

Elin slowly nodded, then looked into my eyes. Her clear, transparent eyes made me feel as if I could be drawn into them.

Her small lips parted, and her beautiful voice flowed out.

“So that’s what you’ve been worrying about…? Really… they say you’re more like my eldest son than my husband, but how can you be like this already?”

“Uh… huh?”

I was taken aback. I thought Elin would surely cry, but she accepted it rather calmly.

“Actually, I worried about it a lot at first too. I often cried imagining the scene of you being buried.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me…”

“How could I…? You would have been even more upset and troubled than me.”

What a fool I am…

I gripped Elin’s hand firmly.

When I was an adventurer, her hands had many calluses, but now they’re just my wife’s small, delicate hands.

“I was so troubled that one day I wrote a letter to my mother. I did get a reply, but do you know what it said?”

“I’m guessing she told you to stay strong.”

“No. Mother was angry. She asked if I hadn’t prepared myself for this before getting married. The rest was all nagging. Was I neglecting my husband because it was hard? Was I eating properly with a baby in my belly…?”

Elin spoke as if lamenting, and I nodded silently, listening.

“…And you know what was written in the last line? ‘Consider it a blessing that you can remain as the most beautiful wife in your husband’s final memories.’ I was angry when I first read it, but thinking about it, that wasn’t what she meant.”

“To take it positively…?”

“Yes, something like that.”

Rather than obsessing over an unchangeable reality, one should change oneself…

For example, one’s perspective…?

“Then I’ll be an old man with the most beautiful and young wife.”

“Do you think we’ll still be able to do night activities then?”

“I might die from that…”

I’d really pass away…

As I had this meaningless conversation with Elin, the worries I’d been having seemed trivial.

And I learned that Elin wanted many children. Something about not wanting to be lonely later…

In the end, I decided to visit Elin’s room again tonight. Of course I wanted to fulfill my wife’s request, and such a demand was welcome on my part as well.

Just then, feeling a gaze, I turned my head to find Ceres, who had been sound asleep, staring at me blankly. Our conversation must have been loud.

I mouthed “I love you” with a smile. Ceres then reached out her arms toward me as if asking to be held and said:

“Papa…! Papa…!”

Both Elin and I widened our eyes at our little princess’s words.

First “Abang” and now “Papa”…!

It’s amazing and joyful to see our children starting to speak.

I just hope those lips won’t say harsh words later…

— Ah! I told you to get out! Dad, you smell!

— Father, could you please leave? I’m studying and you’re disturbing me.

— I don’t need fruit. Didn’t you hear me say I’m on a diet?

— Sigh, I told you so many times to separate the laundry… Look, there’s a stain here.

Ouch…

Just imagining it sends chills down my spine. I really hope that doesn’t happen. Honestly, I don’t think I could handle it.

Anyway, that’s for later. Right now, I should praise our little princess.

I sat on the bed and took Ceres in my arms. She then reached out to Elin and said:

“Papa…! Mama…!”

“C-Crow, did you hear that just now?! Did she say ‘Mama’?!”

Elin took Ceres’s hand with an expression of pure joy. A tear streamed down her cheek.

“Ceres, I’m Mama. Mama.”

“Mama…!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

When Elin wiggled her finger from side to side, Ceres burst into laughter. Watching the two of them, I felt so happy I could die without regrets.

Thinking about it, there have been several major turning points in my life.

First, when my parents passed away and I met my mentor, Riano.

She’s now my wife and Karin’s mother, but back then she was truly a strict teacher. I wonder what expression Karin would make if I told her that.

The next turning point was probably when I left Riano’s care on my own.

It would have been fine to stay at the alchemy workshop and follow in Riano’s footsteps, but honestly, I thought a man should go on at least one adventure.

After that, of course, was meeting Lael.

Back then, she was an immature colleague I wanted to smack, but now she’s not just standing shoulder to shoulder with me but is my wife. The world is truly something you have to live long to understand.

Then there was saving Elin from being taken by slave traders, and meeting Derin.

There have been so many events, both big and small. But if I had to pick the most important one…

It would be when I was abandoned by them in the unexplored labyrinth.

Oh, come to think of it, there was a priest… P-Pringles or something? I can’t even remember his name now.

Anyway, he tried to cast me into the abyss. I hope he fell into hell in my place.

Now it’s just a joke I share with my wives, but back then I truly felt like my world was collapsing. I thought I had been betrayed by those I trusted most.

But because of that incident, the relationship within our party changed, and in the end, all five of us reached a happy conclusion.

So I don’t regret going through that experience. I didn’t yesterday, I don’t today, and I won’t tomorrow.

As I was writing in a thick book…

“Father, it’s time for dinner. Mother has prepared honey mushroom stew for tonight…”

“Ah, Ceres. I’ll be down soon.”

“It’s good that you’re writing your book, but you’ve been too absorbed lately. If you come down late like last time, Mother will surely be angry.”

After saying that, Ceres left the room.

The world moves so fast. Ceres, who used to say “Papa” so cutely when she was little, has already grown up like this.

Anyway, I should wrap this up now.

I picked up my pen with a smile. This thick book is already on its last page, but I received four more thick books as birthday gifts from the children, so I’m not particularly worried.

The pen moves, and the last remaining page fills with letters.

“To think I’d actually finish writing such a thick book. It feels like just yesterday that I was recording the activities of the Black Crow party. Time really flies.”

It truly does. It’s surprising.

“After I die, I hope our children’s children, and even our distant descendants, will read this book and laugh and cry. And I hope they will cherish my memories in their hearts.”

The last thing left is one sentence…

What should I write…?

As I was pondering, there was a knock and a voice:

“F-Father! Mother is coming up! Hurry! Hurry!”

“O-Okay! I got it!”

In the end, I hastily closed the book without writing the last sentence. If Elin gets angry, it could really be irreversible.

“Ceres, step aside.”

“M-Mother, Father will be out soon. Just a little p-patience…!”

“I won’t say it twice. Step aside.”

On the cover of the old book, [Black Crow] is written in large letters.

And below that, [Family Records] is written in crooked letters, as my wives and I each wrote one character.

The cool evening breeze blows through the window, making the curtains flutter.

At the same time, the book cover tilts over, and the first page opens.

[Memories will eventually be forgotten. But writing is eternal. Therefore, my memories are eternal too.]

Hoping someone will cherish this writing as a memory.

Fin.